The Home Court Advantage (24 page)

“What’s that?” Stella asked the chair to her left. Nobody was actually sitting in the chair at the moment so I thought she meant literally.

“That’s a chair,” I said helpfully.

“Her name is Gabrielle,” Stella continued.

“Do you name all of your furniture?” Adam asked with a smile.

“She’s speaking with Emily,” Stew explained. “One of our resident ghosts.”

“Uh
huh
,” Cam said. “I take it that you and Emily have met, Gabrielle?”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “I know some Emmas …”

“Hang on a second!” Lily jumped in. “You’re saying that there’s a ghost sitting in that chair and the ghost knew Gabrielle’s name?”

“Yes, Emily knows
many things
,” Stella said with dramatic flair. She should meet the pecker. She seemed to be glancing back and forth between Lily and Adam though. That actually made me wonder …

“Emily must read the Philadelphia Inquirer,” Jess said with a smile.

“I sense skepticism,” Stella said a bit reproachfully. “There’s too much negative energy here now. We must be moving on.” With that she and Emily left.

“She’s a bit touchy,” Stew explained. “Let me know if you need anything.” He smiled and moved on.

“Don’t be snarky with the crazy ghost lady,” I said to Jess as soon as Stew was out of earshot. “We need to get in good with these people.”

“You guys were messing around with her too,” Jess said with a smile.

“I don’t think that you should openly share who your relatives are with these people, Gabrielle,” Adam warned.

“He’s right, Gab,” Cam agreed. “A senator’s son and the daughter of a powerful CEO might not be the most popular folks in a room filled with conspiracy theorists.” Three more people started moving our way.

“How nice to see some new blood here this year!” said a squat, middle-aged guy who reminded me of an accountant “Stephen Jebson!” He shook our hands. “I’m an accountant.” Hey! Did I call it?

“Mathew Sinclair. I work in the hospitality industry,” said a second man, who reminded me of Liberace but more flamboyant. He had tinted hair, a hot pink shirt and a diamond earring.

“I am Raoul,” said the third man, like that meant something. He had jet black hair with enough grease in it to lube the entire parking lot. He also had a shirt unbuttoned halfway to his navel and about fifty gold chains. Sexy. We introduced ourselves yet again to the newest arrivals.

“We haven’t had anyone new at the conference in a while,” Mathew offered.

“Well, we’re kind of new to the UFO world,” I explained.

“You have picked a good year to come,” Raoul said. “Some believe that de ship, she ees coming at last. You have met Stella? Yes?”

“
And
Emily!” Adam said with a smile.

“Have you met Rain and Forrest too?” Stephen asked.

“They were abducted back in the sixties!” Mathew volunteered, sounding very excited. “Forrest was anally probed!”

Just then Rain stepped behind a small podium that had been set up at one end of the room. She tapped on a microphone a couple of times, creating a sound loud enough and shrill enough to pierce my brain, and then proceeded to get the ball rolling.

“If you would all please have a seat. My friends, it’s wonderful to see you all here again this year, and we’re fortunate enough to welcome some new attendees.” Every eye in the room turned to us. We shared a friendly wave. “As most of you know, Overbrook Lodge is located in what is considered a “hot spot” for paranormal activity and it’s probably that which drew our visitors from space here in the first place. As is our tradition, we’ve invited local historian Leland Harding to get the flow of information going. So, for those of you who are familiar with the fascinating tale, just sit back and relax and for our newcomers, we are very happy to be able to enlighten you and open your minds to the truth and the mysteries that surround us.” She did something with her arms that looked vaguely hula-like. “Without further ado, Leland Harding.”

A guy who looked like an undertaker, make that the Crypt-Keeper, stepped up to the sound of polite applause. I half expected to hear a wolf howl a bloodcurdling scream. He cleared his throat, said “Good evening,” in a creepy Dracula-like way and proceeded to tell us enough freaky shit to guarantee that we wouldn’t sleep all weekend.

An hour later we were walking back to the cabin, feeling pretty anxious and looking kind of like Marge. An owl flew by us and we almost hit the ground.

“Just so we’re on the same page,” Cam said. “I’m not up for the anal probing.”

“I think you should discuss that with Jess,” I replied numbly.

“So, how many people died horrible tragic deaths at this place?” Lily asked.

“A lot,” Braden answered.

“And apparently they’re all still here,” Adam added.

“Maybe they’ll scare off the aliens,” Cam suggested.

We made it back to the cabin alive and without being abducted or probed. Braden made a fire in the fireplace while Jess put together snacks and Cam played bartender. We had decided to save the hot tub for the following night as nobody really felt like being outside near the woods after that fun little lecture. We all settled in and made ourselves comfortable in front of the fire, sipping our cocktails.

“So, do you think that maybe Rain and Forrest did some drugs back in the sixties?” Adam asked.

“No! What would give you that idea?” Braden replied.

“More importantly,” I said. “What drugs do you think Marge is on right now?”

“Psychotropic ones,” Cam answered.

“I think Mathew
wants
to be abducted,” Lily put in.

“I’m pretty sure he’s already being anally probed, honey,” Jess noted dryly.

“You didn’t see the guy from the music festival?” I asked Adam with a sigh.

“I don’t think so. Sorry,” he replied. “Although I guess that either Mathew or Raoul could possibly be him. Stew is too short and skinny and the accountant guy is too short and fat. Nobody else in the room really jumped out at me either and nobody was acting weird. Well, nobody was acting
suspiciously
.”

“Well, according to Stew, there are supposed to be more people coming tomorrow,” Lily offered. “There’s a lecture and then there are some breakout groups afterward.”

“Where do you think they broke out of?” Braden asked with a laugh, cracking Adam and Cam up.

“How do you think that Stella knew Gabrielle’s name?” Lily asked. “You don’t think she’s really psychic? I mean, there wasn’t really a ghost there, right?”

“She probably saw their engagement picture. That’s what I meant by saying that Emily reads the paper,” Jess said. “Stew probably saw it too but Stella has a better memory.”

“I hope there’s no Emily,” I said. “Isn’t she the one who got hacked up?”

“No, she’s the one who got mauled by the bear,” Cam answered.

“Oh God!” Lily winced.

“I thought you wrote thrillers,” Adam said scornfully.

“Legal thrillers! Nobody gets mauled by a bear in court!”

“So should we check out the lecture and breakout groups?” I asked.

“The lecture is an overview of all the truths that the Truth Seekers are seeking,” Jess said. “And the breakout groups are about assassinations, secret societies, and extraterrestrials.”

“You had better make sure that nobody mentions Senator Tyler Pierce or CEO Ben Ginsberg by name in the free flow of information and mind expanding tomorrow,” Cam said.

“I guess we’re breaking out,” I agreed. “Why don’t we just pair up and each take a group.”

“I think that assassinations might freak me out considering my dad’s line of work,” Braden said, sipping a vodka and tonic.

“Okay, why don’t you and I take extraterrestrials?” I suggested. “Jess and Cam can take secret societies and Adam and Lily can take assassinations.”

“Adam and I are a team?” Lily asked dubiously.

“Are you afraid to spend time alone with me?” Adam asked with a smirk.

“Why in the hell would I be afraid to spend time alone with you?” Lily asked, looking at him like he was nuts.

“Maybe you’re worried you wouldn’t be able to control yourself,” he said suggestively.

“Yeah! I might kill you and then we would be haunting this place together forever.”

“You’re not going to be alone,” I reminded them. “You’ll be in a group.”

“Okay, fine. You realize you’re stuck with me now, Mr. Funny Guy,” she said to Adam.

“Who wants another drink?” Cam, the bartender, asked. We had another drink. I was feeling pretty good. Cam was generous with the booze.

“What kinds of cases have you been handling lately, Cameron?” Braden asked changing the subject. That led into a general discussion of some of the other cases we all had been handling lately, some courthouse gossip and some talk about the upcoming election. Braden had begun stroking my leg, and I was starting to feel rather aroused.

“So, honey, are you ready for bed?” I asked hopefully.

“Uh oh, Braden. I think Gabrielle’s trying to lure you away,” Jess teased.

“You know what it’s like when a woman’s been drinkin’.” I laughed.

“Oh Jesus, baby! I told you not to put that image in my head before we go to bed,” Braden said and Adam lost it.

“I’ll explain later,” Jess said to Cam and Lily.

“Goodnight everyone!” Braden called out as he grabbed my hand and pulled me back to our room like we were exiting a burning building.

When we got to our room he shut and locked the door and pulled the curtains closed while I put the bedside lamp on low and pulled back the covers on the bed.

“Why don’t you get undressed and wait for me in bed with your eyes closed and then I’ll show you my surprise,” I said with a smile.

“I like the sound of that,” he answered, giving me a hot look of anticipation. When he wasn’t looking I grabbed his shirt which I had packed and ducked into the bathroom. I undressed and slipped it on, along with a pair of skimpy black lacy panties and another pair of very high heels. I rubbed a little oil onto my skin, spritzed perfume between my breasts, put on some fresh lipstick and tousled my hair to make it sort of wild. After three vodka and cranberries I was feeling sort of wild myself. When I came back out Braden was sitting in bed, with his eyes closed as promised. He was looking all deliciously gorgeous and muscly. As usual he was also already semi-erect, which was a beautiful sight to see. I went to stand about five feet away from him.

“Okay, open your eyes,” I said seductively. He did and his breath hitched. It didn’t take very long before it wasn’t a semi he was sporting anymore.

“Oh baby,” he said huskily. “That shirt has never looked that good on me.”

“I beg to differ but I’m glad that you like it,” I said, feeling very coquettish.

“I love it. Turn around for me.” I did a flirty little strut and pirouette for him. Too bad I didn’t have a pole to work with here. “You’re gorgeous. What do you have on under there?” He began stroking himself while he watched me. Oh my! That was really hot! I realized suddenly that I was just standing there staring. Some stripper I would make!

“Uh, well,” I swallowed. “Let’s find out.” I reached down and started slowly unbuttoning. He started to look dazed. When I got to the last button I let it just hang open in the front so it was still covering my breasts but he could see that all I was wearing underneath were my tiny black lace panties.

“Come sit on my lap,” he said huskily. I looked at him intently and gave him my best sexy smile. I stalked toward him, and thankfully, did not catch my heel on the rug. I once pitched down a whole flight of stairs that way. Catching my heel. Not stalking toward a hot naked guy. When I reached him I crawled onto his lap, straddling him, but being careful not to crush anything we needed. Don’t ask me how I had learned that lesson!

“Well, hello handsome,” I said teasingly.

“Hello gorgeous.” His breath sounded labored as he slid his hands inside the sides of the shirt and ran them down from my waist over my hips and around to squeeze my bottom.

“Ooh, I like that,” I said as I wiggled around and ground my hips into him.

“I like
that
,” he said in a husky voice. His hands left my ass and went to my boobs. He cupped them under the shirt and then he urged me up onto my knees, pushed the shirt aside and leaned in to gently bite, lick and suck one nipple. I whimpered with pleasure and buried my fingers in his hair, my hips moving of their own accord. He moved to the other side and a small moan escaped my throat. His tongue felt so hot.